Cleanings & Exams

In addition to daily homecare, it is recommended to visit the dentist for routine checkups, usually every 6 months but, in some cases, more frequent visits may be recommended. We also utilize radiographs as part of your examination. Routine dental cleanings and exams are a great way to maintain oral health. During your recall appointments, our hygienists will scale and polish the teeth, floss and give oral hygiene instructions. They will also evaluate periodontal health, assessing bone level and pockets around the teeth. This is followed by a thorough soft tissue and dental exam by Dr. Harris. 

When decay is present or tooth structure is lost due to damage, a dental filling is required to restore the tooth to it's proper structure and function. At our practice, we offer two types of restorative materials. We utilize amalgam "silver" fillings, as well as composite/resin "tooth colored" fillings. 

To properly restore a tooth due to decay, the doctor will thoroughly remove the decay, apply the restorative material and then restore its original shape, size and bite. 

When teeth suffer damage or decay that requires more than just a "filling" restoration, crowns are usually the recommended treatment. Crowns cover the tooth entirely to prevent further damage. Teeth are prepared in the office to certain dimensions, then an impression will be taken to send to the lab for fabrication. A shade that matches the current teeth will also be selected.

Crowns are made of several different materials, most commonly porcelain, zirconia or gold. Dr. Harris will help to determine the material that is best for the patient. 

Other reasons that a crown may be recommended could be to protect a tooth after root canal treatment, complete restoration for an implant, or to cover a tooth that may be weakened by fractures over time. 

When our patients would like to enhance the look of their smile, esthetic crowns, veneers or composites are a great option. These procedures can be utilized to close spaces, restore chipped or broken teeth, or to improve the appearance of darkened or stained teeth. 

While our goal is always to restore teeth when possible, there are cases when, unfortunately, a tooth must be extracted. When teeth and/or surrounding bone structure have sustained significant damage from trauma, infection or decay, Dr. Harris may recommend extraction as the best course of treatment. Our team strives to make this experience as comfortable as possible and provides post operative instructions to assist in hopes of healing with minimal complication. 

While we work in collaboration with specialists such as oral surgeons or periodontists for implant placement, we are happy to provide implant restoration to our patients. We offer implant crowns as well as implant over denture tooth replacement options. 

Dentures are a removable tooth replacement options. Partials can replace one or multiple teeth. We also utilize interim partials in the transitional phase of implant healing when necessary. Full dentures are used as replacement when all teeth are missing or will be extracted.